Challenger Brian Gruber, a 57-year-old emergency room doctor who has lived in town a little more than a year, received 463 votes, but that was not enough.

Brown, a 67-year-old retired teacher, received 604 votes. Dean, a 43- year-old businesswoman, came in second, with 580. Smith, a 53-year- old contractor, took 564 votes, and Dashiell, an 80-year-old retired management analyst, received 536.

Gruber, who was at work Tuesday night, said, "I'm sorry I didn't win. But if that's what the people in Smithfield want, then they will continue down the same path they've been going. Obviously, the people in Smithfield didn't want change."

The incumbents were in a Town Council meeting Tuesday night and couldn't be reached for comment.

Gruber, who's not sure whether he'll run for the council again, wished them well. "They have some big decisions to make," he said, such as financing a new fire and rescue building with Isle of Wight County and an estimated $5 million streetscape improvement along South Church Street.

The town of about 6,800 has 4,988 registered voters. About 16 percent turned out for the election, the county registrar's office estimated. Results are unofficial until they can be certified. *